Pages

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Hi Y'all- It's been a while. Every week I tell me self I'm going to sign up- and every week I forget. This week I remembered to sign up, and then forgot to post. Such is life in the summer I guess.

I know it seems like I've been quiet for a bit, but I turned in a new western in April, and it has been up on the woodshed for a bit. I don't have an exact release date, but I'm thinking early September.

And oh my heck- I still need to write a blurb!

In this scene, which is in the first Chapter, Finley, the newly elected mayor is on his way out to his mentors for dinner when he sees their daughter hitchiking down the road, home for Thanksgiving.

Falling For Finley- Coming Fall 2016

Finn’s thoughts kept him company on the short trip to the
liquor store. He had almost made it there when he spotted her. Francesca Upton
in the flesh. He would have recognized her anywhere, even in that get-up. The
prodigal daughter looked more like she belonged in the trailer park on the
other side of town; walking down the highway in daisy dukes, a cut-off black
tank that showed off a ring sparkling in her belly-button, and to top off the
get-up, red cowboy boots. She was walking along the edge of the road, with a
ratty knapsack slung over her shoulder, looking as if she didn’t have a care in
the world, with her arm extended out to her side, and her thumb pointed towards
the sky.

Hitchhiking? Oh hell, no!

Finn was half tempted to drive on by like everyone else,
and pretend he didn’t see her, but he knew Joseph would have his head if he
found out, and Joseph would find out.
Slowly easing off the gas, Finn pulled off to the side of the road.

“Get in the truck!”

It was completely obvious from Francesca’s face that she
hadn’t recognized him yet, but it didn’t stop her from dropping her arm to her
side, and striding towards him with purpose and without fear.

Finn rolled down the passenger side window, Francesca
walked over and leaned in with a salacious smile, which faded once she
recognized him. “Oh. It’s you.”

“Damn right it’s me, and you’re lucky it is. Now get in the
truck before you get picked up by some entitled pervert with more in mind than
giving you a ride.”

“Go to Hell, Finley,” she spat out, using his given name,
as she pounded her open palm on the door of his truck before turning and
stomping off in the opposite direction.

Finn was pretty sure he was already there. He couldn’t just
take off in the opposite direction and leave Joe’s little girl to her own
devices. This close to Masonville, odds are she would probably be safe, but it
wasn’t a chance Finn was willing to take. He was going to get her into his
vehicle by whatever means necessary. Swearing under his breath, he jumped out
of the truck and took off after her.

She was fast, but he was faster. It only took a minute for
Finn to close the distance between them, and slow her down with a hand wrapped
around the strap of her backpack.

“Why are you out here hitchhiking anyway?”

Francesca’s eyes blazed as she whirled around
to face him.

“To see if someone would pick me up.”

“Very funny smartass. Why wouldn’t you get a
ride with Joe?”

Her face fell, but she quickly recovered. If he had
blinked, he would have missed the break in her cool facade.

“Because, father of the year that he is, he
forgot to pick me up.”

“Oh.” Joe had had a few spells of forgetfulness lately, but
Finn hadn’t thought it was anything to worry about. Maybe he was wrong.

“Well, I’m about to head out to the ranch now, after I make
a few quick stops. Get in the truck, and I’ll have you home soon enough.” He
made the mistake of releasing her, forgetting for a moment just how stubborn
she could be. As soon as she was free of his grasp she took off running
again.

“Damn it, Francesca!” he hollered as he took
up chase.

“I’d rather walk!”

“Well, you’re walking really fast in the
wrong direction!”

That slowed her. He could almost see the wheels turning in
her head. Continue running as she got farther and farther from her destination,
or turn, and run right towards him. In the instant that she paused, he was able
to catch up with her, grabbing her upper arm this time, and putting his face
close to hers, speaking low and slow.

“Little girl,” he growled. “I really do not have time for
these ridiculous games. You were looking for a ride, and I offered one. Now get
in the truck, before I bend you over and whoop your butt right here in front of
God and anybody that happens to pass by.”

Francesca’s face flamed as she glared at him defiantly.
“Get a grip, Finley. You aren’t my father.”

He had to laugh. “We both know Joe never laid a hand on
you, if he had, maybe you wouldn’t be such a stubborn spoiled brat. Maybe when
someone tried to offer you help in the form of a ride, to keep you from being
raped or worse, you would have the good manners to say thank you and get in the
damn truck without making them chase you all over tarnation.”

She was quicker than him for just a minute, but it was long
enough to wrench her arm free from his grasp and draw it back, but not fast
enough to actually slap him. He caught her arm right before it made contact
with his cheek, and in one swift move, he had it pinned behind her back once
more. It took only a few steps to reach the bumper of his truck, and sit down
on it, with Francesca still in his grip. She had been compliant until that
point, but once he sat, and she realized what he was meaning to do, she took to
fighting with all her might.

She was a hellcat, but that was no surprise to Finn. One
leg came up and tucked over the top of hers, and when her free hand flew back
to fight him, he grabbed it and pinned it with the other one.

“You can thrash around all you want sweetheart, and you can
holler and hoot to the heavens, but rest assured, you are not getting up until
I give you the spanking you sorely deserve.”

“Finley Silas Tucker! You unhand me right this minute! Who
the hell do you think you are? Just wait till my daddy hears about this!”

Finn just chuckled in response. She was screaming fit to
beat Jesus, but they were on a deserted stretch of Texas backroad, and despite
his earlier threats there was no one around to hear her.

Bracing his foot against the bumper, he tilted her forward
so he would have a better aim, and examined his target. Sweet Jesus, at this
angle, those daisy dukes left nothing for the imagination, and left her sit
spots perfectly bared for her spanking. He let out a low whistle. Lord, but he
had wanted to do this for a long time.

Sending a quick prayer up that Joe would forgive him for
this, he raised his hand and brought it down across her bare crease with a
satisfying crack.

That's all for today! Stop by these other blogs for more spanky snippets!